Word Origin & History

gag mid-15c., "to choke, strangle," possibly imitative or influenced by O.N. gaghals "with head thrown back." The sense of "stop a person's mouth" is first attested c.1500. Related: Gagged; gagging. The noun is 1550s, from the verb.

Example Sentences for gagged

Frightened beyond ability to shout the servant held up his hands, and was gagged in a jiffy and his hands tied behind his back.

Two others followed, holding Finlay, gagged and bound, by the arms.

The poor fellow was bound and gagged, ere he was sufficiently awake to understand what was happening to him.

For myself, I was at once repelled and gagged by Pierce's manner.

Kneeling beside his superior officer, he cut the handkerchief that gagged him and the ropes that tied his limbs.

Then, still bound and gagged, they were mounted on spare horses.

The engine too was muffled and went snuffing along through the night like a blind thing that had been gagged.

At times he could not breathe at all, but gagged and gasped, his lips distended.

Instantly both men grabbed him, and while Cuffer held him tightly from the rear, Shelley caught up a towel and gagged him.